Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder which primarily consists of the fear of experiencing a
difficult or embarrassing situation from which the sufferer cannot escape. Agoraphobia sufferers are
often extremely sensitized to their own bodily sensations, subconsciously over-reacting to perfectly
normal events. Agoraphobia is best understood as an adverse behavioral outcome of repeated panic
attacks and the subsequent worry, preoccupation, and avoidance.

Agoraphobia, then, is both a severe anxiety condition and a phobia, as well as a pattern of
avoidantbehavior. Agoraphobia often starts when someone has a panic attack in a particular place,
say a supermarket. Agoraphobia usually begins in the late 20s and is more common in women than men,
(although that may be because fewer men seek help).

Agoraphobia sometimes starts suddenly and sometimes it develops slowly. Agoraphobiais caused by
inappropriate levels of anxiety and can be eliminatedquickly and simply by undoing the changes in
the subconscious mindthat caused the condition to develop. Agoraphobia comes from the Greek "agora",
marketplace + "phobos", fear = fear of the marketplace. Agoraphobia can lead to extreme anxiety and
avoidance, leading some victims to become "housebound," unable to leave a very small "safe zone".

Anti-anxiety and antidepressive medications are often used to help relieve the symptoms
associated with phobias. Antidepressant medications are effective treatments for many people with
panic disorder -- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac, have become the
effective treatments. However, some people cannot tolerate this, as is true with all medications.
Treatment options include cognitive behaviour therapy and medication, usually with an SSRI
antidepressant.

A person may fear having anxiety attacks,"losing control", or embarrassing him/herself in
suchsituations. Through homework assignments, reading, writing, and talking with aprofessional in
this technique, you can help to control or eliminate theseautomatic bad thoughts. The cause of all
these conditions is a small organ called The Amygdala which controls the anxiety reaction. The
Amygdala is a small organ in the brain which is responsible for controlling and storing the anxiety
response which causes agoraphobia. Hypnosis can help you learn to control anxiety symptoms and
things that trigger panic attacks.

Other types of therapy, such as cognitive therapy, assertiveness training, biofeedback, hypnosis,
meditation, relaxation or couples therapy were found to be helpful for some patients. Self hypnosis
can help you overcome agoraphobia. Alternative ways of treatment include hypnosis and techniques of
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), which is rapidly becoming more popular and widely accepted by
the general public.